Wire clamp



Aug. 20, 1929. I A. G. WHITE WIRE CLAMP Filed Jan. 25, 1927 INSULA T/ON 7 L m. 4 f

IIII gwuntot Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,725,553 PATENT OFFICE.

AUSTIN Gr. WHITE, OF MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STATES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

WIRE CLAMP.

Application filed January 26, 1927.

This invention relates to a clamp which is particularly adapted for makingtest and temporary electrical connections with heavy wires and cables, but, of course, it may be employed for other purposes, especially where a plurality of wire junctions are required,

The object of the invention is to prov de a simple, inexpensive and strong clamp which can be employed to connect the terminals of one or more wires together, or two continuous line wires or cables.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated has an insulating block with a conducting plate on one face and a conducting yoke that is adjustable toward and from the plate, the yoke having limbs that enter openings in the block to guide and prevent it from turning, and also having a threaded stem that extends through the block, and on the side opposite the yoke has a nut. whereby a wire or wires may be clamped between the nut and the block or between the yoke and plate, or both, by simply turning the nut down.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of the clamp. Fig.2 is an edge view showing a wire clamped between the nut and block. Fig. 3 shows a bottom view with the terminals of two wires clamped between the yoke and block. Fig. 4 is a top view with the device clamped upon a continuous wire.

The block 1 may be made of porcelain or any other suitable insulating material with a central perforation 2 and openings 3 on each side of the center. A conducting plate 4 with a perforation that aligns with the central perforation and openings that align with the side openings is attached to the under side of the block. The yoke 5 is made of conducting material with its upwardly extending limbs 6 loosely fitting the openings in the block. A stud 7 extends upward from the center of the yoke through the perforation in the block, and a thumb nut 8 is secured on the threaded upper end of the stem. lVhen the nut is turned down either upon a wire or against the top of the block the yoke is drawn up against. a wire or the plate attached to the bottom of the block.

lVith this device the terminals or the ex posed sections of one or more wires may be clamped between the nut and the top of the Serial No. 163,366.

block, or between the yoke and the bottom of the block, that is, one or more wires may be clamped above or one or more wires may be clamped beneath or both, as the circumstances require. The yoke can be disengaged from the block to permit the introduction between its limbs of a continuous wire or cable and when reassembled with the block a tap wire or test wires may be electrically connected therewith through the nut and stem, if desired. The limbs entering the openings in the block guide the yoke in its movements and hold it from twisting when the nut is turned, also prevent it from breaking or the limbs from opening out so as to become disengaged from, or allow the disengagement of, any wire or cable to which the clamp is attached.

The invention claimed is:

1. A wire clamp comprising a block of insulating material having a central perforation and openings on each side of the perforation, a yoke of conducting material having limbs extending into said openings and having a threaded stem projecting through said perforation, a nut threaded on said stem, and a conducting plate attached to said block and facing said yoke.

2. A wire clamp comprising a block of insulating material, a yoke formed of conducting material removab-ly attached to said block, said yoke having integral limbs that extend into said block and form confined spaces for retaining wire between the limbs of the yoke and the block when the parts are assembled, said yoke also having an integral threaded stem that projects through the block and a nut threaded upon said stem and adapted to be screwed against the side of the block opposite from the yoke.

3. A wire clamp comprising a block of insulating material having a central perforation and openings on two sides of said perforation, a metallic yoke having a central threaded metallic stem projecting through said perforation and also having metallic limbs extending into said openings and forming confined spaces for retaining wire between the limbs of the yoke and the block when the parts are assembled, and a metallic thumb nut threaded upon the end of said stem.

4. A wire clamp comprising a block of insulation having a central circular perforation and rectangular perforations each side spaces for retaining wire between the limbs :of and parallel with said central perforaof the yoke and the block when the parts tion, a conducting yoke having a central stem are assembled, and a metallic nut threaded 10 extending through said central perforation upon said stem and adapted to be turned 5 and having angular limbs parallel with said against said block.

stem and extending loosely into said rectangular perforations and forming confined AUSTIN G. WHITE. 

